Valve holder with leaflet protection

1. An implantation device for a prosthetic heart valve having a plurality of leaflets, comprising:

a valve holder for maintaining the plurality of leaflets of the prosthetic heart valve in a closed configuration when coupled to the prosthetic heart valve; and

at least one protective sheet having at least one eyelet for receiving a suture therethrough, the at least one protective sheet being configured to be coupled at a first end to the valve holder and at a second end to a portion of the prosthetic heart valve via the at least one eyelet, and extending from a first commissure portion to a second commissure portion of the prosthetic heart valve to cover a leaflet of the heart valve during implantation.

2. The implantation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective sheet includes three protective sheets.

3. The implantation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective sheet includes a protective sheet for each leaflet of the prosthetic heart valve.

4. The implantation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective sheet is comprised of at least one of Ultem, Delrin, Udel, and PEEK.

5. The implantation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective sheet includes multiple sheets, each of the multiple sheets including a leg coupleable to a ring of a heart valve.

6. The implantation device of claim 1 , wherein the valve holder includes a slot for receiving a handle, and the valve holder is configured to be removed with the handle after implantation of the prosthetic heart valve.

7. An implantation device for a prosthetic heart valve having a plurality of leaflets, the implantation device comprising:

a valve holder for maintaining the prosthetic heart valve in a closed configuration when coupled to the prosthetic heart valve;

a chimney coupled to the valve holder, the chimney defining a lumen; and

at least one protective sheet configured to be coupled at a first end to the valve holder, extend through the lumen of the chimney, wrap around the prosthetic heart valve and couple to the valve holder at a second end to form a tent that encloses the prosthetic heart valve.

8. The implantation device of claim 7 , wherein the prosthetic heart valve is a prosthetic mitral valve.

9. The implantation device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one protective sheet includes three protective sheets.

10. The implantation device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one protective sheet includes a protective sheet for each leaflet of the prosthetic heart valve.

11. The implantation device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one protective sheet is comprised of at least one of Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), PTFE, polyurethane.

12. The implantation device of claim 7 , wherein the valve holder includes a slot for receiving a handle.

13. The implantation device of claim 7 , further comprising a sheet clamp coupled to the valve holder for clamping a portion of the at least one sheet protector.

14. The implantation device of claim 13 , wherein the sheet clamp includes complementary upper and lower portions configured to retain a protective sheet between the upper and lower portions.

15. The implantation device of claim 14 , wherein the upper and lower portions include complementary suture holes for coupling the upper portion to the lower portion via sutures.

16. The implantation device of claim 7 , wherein the valve holder includes three legs, and each of the at least one protective sheet is attached to a first leg on one end and to a second leg at another end.

17. The implantation device of claim 9 , wherein each of the three protective sheets is joined to another two of the protective sheets at edges thereof.